Many of the Sudanese children living in Victoria came from
refugee camps where schooling was minimal or non-existent, says
Donna Chesters, community development co-ordinator at the
Foundation for the Survivors of Torture.

Some have had traumatic experiences such as watching family
members being killed; many of the children at St Albans have lost
their fathers.

The children spend up to 12 months learning English before
moving into the mainstream school, where four translators give
continuing help.

Teachers have learnt to modify their lessons to cater for
different abilities and have studied Sudanese history and
culture.

"That's really important for staff to understand what (the
children) have had to endure before they got here," Mr Haslam
said.

A program helps Sudanese parents understand the Australian
education system, which usually differs greatly from their own
experience.

"So many of them have come from a background where (a school)
might have 100 children on a dirt floor under a tree," Ms Chesters
said.

Schools have an important role to play in supporting the growing
number of young refugees and their families, according to the
Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Deputy chairman Hakan Akyol said schools not only helped with
language and academic needs but could also direct families to
support services.

"Schools are critical in terms of how children gain a greater
understanding of Australian society," he said.

Mr Haslam said parents were eager to be involved with the
community. A Sudanese parent had joined the school council.

For Regina Makor, the school has provided a welcome introduction
to life in Australia.

She can't believe that after only a year her sons are thriving
at school.

They had only limited education in Egypt, where they lived for
five years after fleeing the Sudanese civil war.

Ms Makor, who never attended school, says she is looking forward
to a better future for her children.